Hustedia mormoni brachiopod from Kansas

Hustedia mormoni is a small rynchonellid type brachiopod that is common in Pennsylvanian aged rocks. This specimen came from Kansas, but that is all the label says. I found this specimen in the Yale Collection that has a provenance of: Late Pennsylvanian, Virgilian, Shawnee Grp, Oread Ls.

Brachial valve

Anterior

Pedicle valve

Posterior

Profile

Here is another link to a specimen from Missouri.

Strophonella reversa from Iowa

These next specimens, which come from Rockford, Iowa, I purchased from a seller on E-bay. They are Strophonella reversa and come from the Lime Creek formation.Compared to other members of the Strophomenida order, these are relatively robust fossils which display the typical curvature of the Pedicle valve, but the Brachial valve is not as convex.

Pedicle valve

Anterior

Brachial valve

Posterior

Profile

Four specimens side by side to show the variation within the species.

The above specimens came from the Cerro Gordo member of the Lime Creek Formation, which is Upper Devonian (Fransian) in age.

Douvillina arcuata from Iowa

In line with my previous post regarding Protodouvillina, here are some examples from the upper Devonian of Iowa.

Pedicle valve

Anterior

Interior of Pedicle valve

Posterior

Profile

Here is a second specimen

Pedicle valve

Anterior

Interior of the Pedicle valve

Posterior

Profile

Four different specimens to show the variation within the species.

A Thank You goes out to my friend Nathan for giving me these specimens that he collected from the Cerro Gordo Member of the Lime Creek Formation (Fransian stage of the Devonian) near Rockford, Iowa.

Xenocyathellus thedfordensis coral from Arkona

My fall trip to collect at Arkona was successful in adding new species to my collection as well as expanding my knowledge of the local stratigraphy. Both were helped along by a new friend, Darrell, whom I'd met before on another trip. He explained and showed me some of the narrow horizons where particular fossils can be found within the Arkona shale. He's been collecting at the site for many years so it's good to get some of his first hand knowledge. Darrell had pointed out the Microcyclus bed to me and then handed me the specimen below of the more uncommon Xenocyathellus thedfordensis which can also be found in that horizon.

I'm going to have to keep my eyes open more when I'm next back at Arkona so I can find one of these uncommon fossils for myself!

Another picture from the Friends of the Univeristy of Michigan Museum of Paleontology illustrates some other specimens of Xenocyathellus thedfordensis.

Orbiculoidea truncata from 18 Mile Creek

Not much to show with this specimen. It's a single fossil of an inarticulate brachiopod called Orbiculoidea truncata. I found it along the cliffs that line Lake Erie near 18 Mile Creek. It likely came down from the Windom shale as I found it in an area that had the Wanakah shale covered by talus from the overlying rock.

The Wanakah shale is part of the Ludlowville formation which is Devonian (Givetian stage) in age.